"In and Out" Lacks Umphh by Homer Yen (c) 1997
With the high ratings generated last season by Ellen's coming-out episode on her self-titled hit television show, it seemed like only a matter time before the big studios released something along those same lines. The line, in this case, is the one that people cross when they admit to others that they are gay. Issues surrounding gay lifestyles have increasingly crept up into mainstream Hollywood over the last few years. Most have been farcical looks at gayness such as the inanely funny The Birdcage. Other films feature gay characters to add contrast and shock value to the story line as in Bound. But this is perhaps the first film that tries to take a semi-serious look at someone exploring his sexuality, discovering, in fact, that he might be gay.
Semi-serious, of course, because the film focuses on high school teacher Howard Brackett (Kevin Kline). In a small town somewhere in America's idyllic heartland, Howard teaches romantic poetry, sits with his legs daintily crossed, and wears a bow tie. He is also outwardly effeminate and also loves Barbara Streisand (he's seen Funny Girl a dozen times). Yet despite all of this evidence, he is engaged to a wistful love, fellow English teacher Emily Montgomery (Joan Cusack). As the wedding quickly approaches, fate steps in. One night while watching the Oscars, one of his former students, Camerron Drake (Matt Dillon), garners the gold statuette for Best Actor. In his acceptance speech, he graciously thanks everyone, including his teacher, but also announces that Brackett is gay to the millions of TV viewers, not too mention the population of the town.
Howard is stunned. The town is stunned. His parents quickly rush over. "Is there anything that you want to tell us," they gingerly ask? He exclaims, "I'm not gay!" Soon after, the media storms into town. He becomes hounded by a second-rate reporter named Peter Malloy (Tom Selleck) who is looking for his big break. Moreover, Peter is gay and has come out, and he urges Howard to do the same.
Ultimately, after a hilarious scene that focuses on Howard's masculinity test, which he fails with flying colors, he realizes after all these years why he runs around with a limp hand. The rest of the movie shifts its attention to how Howard copes with his new-found lifestyle and how the town copes with him. Under the direction of Frank Oz, who breathes light comedy, we see Howard's life slowly disintegrate around him. Emily is furious, the faculty and students become wary, his father is in disbelief (a wholesome-as-can-be Wilford Brimley), and the dreams of his wedding-needing mother (a perky and belligerent Debbie Reynolds) is shattered.
Shattered is also how this reviewer felt after leaving the theatre. In it's quest to explore breakthrough material, this movie seemed to try too hard to remain politically correct. It took great strides not to mock anyone. For a movie about gayness, it seemed amazingly...uh...mainstream. It seemed to be void of any major conflict that demanded a resolution. It seemed to lack any conviction in trying to give this film bite. It failed to connote the fragility of the experience and seemed all to willing to let Kline's comic charm lead his way nonchalantly in and out of precarious situations that surrounded his sexuality. The ending reeks of schmaltz as it looks for a feel-good way to wrap it all up.
Perhaps the intent was not to rock the boat or to offer a groundbreaking film. That's probably better left to the independent filmmakers. The movie is certainly not a work of comic - or philosophical - genius either. However, it's strong showing at the box office signals a growing acceptance for movies that explore this topic. Your reward for seeing this film, though, is a great cast of characters, especially Tom Selleck and Debbie Reynolds and also Bob Newhart who plays the nervously cautious high school principal. But, that's the only reward you'll find. Like the gay community, I'm sure that I'm in the minority when I say that this film is a tepid comedy at best. In and Out meanders in and out of sometimes-amusing scenes, but it never seems to quite go anywhere at all.
Grade: C
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